Molded plastic humidifier

ABSTRACT

A HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS, THE PREFERRED FORM OF WHICH COMPRISES AN UPPER ROLLER, A LOWER ROLLER, A FORAMINOUS BELT TRAINED ABOUT THE ROLLERS, AND A ONE-PIECE, INTEGRALLY MOLDED, UPSTANDING PLASTIC HOUSING. THE HOUSING IS FORMED TO PROVIDE, AT ITS LOWER PORTION, A LIQUID-TIGHT RESERVOIR FOR RECEIVING WATER, FIRST MEANS FOR JOURNAL MOUNTING THE LOWER ROLLER FOR ROTATION IN THE RESERVOIR BELOW ITS INTENDED WATER LEVEL, AND SECOND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE UPPER ROLLER ABOVE THE INTENDED MAXIMUM WATER LEVEL OF THE RESERVOIR. THE FIRST MEANS IS PREFERABLY FORMED TO INCLUDE, AT EACH SIDE OF THE RESERVOIR, AN UPSTANDING FLANGE HAVING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED, UPWARDLY OPENING NOTCH FORMED THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE ADJACENT END OF THE LOWER ROLLER, THE LOWER ROLLER BEING WEIGHTED SO THAT IT IS GRAVITY BIASED TOWARD ITS SEATING IN THE NOTCHES. THE SECOND MEANS IS PREFERABLY FORMED TO INCLUDE, AT EACH SIDE OF THE HOUSING, A PAIR OF SPACED-APART, INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ARRANGED TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN THE ADJACENT END OF THE UPPER ROLLER. A BLOCK FOR JOURNAL MOUNTING EACH END OF THE UPPER ROLLER IS PROVIDED, EACH BLOCK EXTENDING BETWEEN AND BEING SUPPORTED BY ONE PAIR OF FLANGES. THE MOTOR FOR DRIVING THE UPPER ROLLER, THE BLOCKS FOR JOURNALLING THE UPPER ROLLER, AND THE GEAR BOX FOR DRIVINGLY CONNECTING THE MOTOR TO THE UPPER ROLLER ARE SUPPORTED IN SLOTS FORMED IN THE FLANGES AT THE SIDES OF THE HOUSING.

26, 1971 R. l. HEIMAN ErAL MOLDED PLASTIC HUMIDIF'IER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 12. 1969 l'ji INVENTORS Y. NN J/m M M A R ED 0 W W l ATAmfivHEM mw VR Oct. 26, 1971 Filed Aug. 12, 1969 R. l. HEIMAN ETAL MOLDEDPLASTIC HUMIDIFIER '3 Shca tsI -Sheot 5 Fig. 7

i 2 I66 II INVENTORS RICHARD I. HEIMAN EVERETT D. WISEMAN TRUEMAN P.JORDAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,615,075 MOLDED PLASTICHUMIDHFIER Richard I. Heirnan, Everett D. Wiseman, and Trueman P.Jordan, Columbus, Ind., assignors to Venice Corporation, Columbus, Ind.

Filed Aug. 12, 1969, Ser. No. 849,341 Int. Cl. Bolt 3/04 U.S. Cl. 261-3027 (Ilaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A humidifying apparatus, thepreferred form of which comprises an upper roller, a lower roller, aforaminous belt trained about the rollers, and 'a one-piece, integrallymolded, upstanding plastic housing. The housing is formed to provide, atits lower portion, a liquid-tight reservoir for receiving water, firstmeans for journal mounting the lower roller for rotation in thereservoir below its intended water level, and second means forsupporting the upper roller above the intended maximum water level ofthe reservoir. The first means is preferably formed to include, at eachside of the reservoir, an upstanding flange having a generally V-shaped,upwardly opening notch formed therein for receiving the adjacent end ofthe lower roller, the lower roller being weighted so that it is gravitybiased toward its seating in the notches. The second means is preferablyformed to include, at each side of the housing, a pair of spaced-apart,inwardly extending flanges arranged to receive therebetween the adjacentend of the upper roller. A block for journal mounting each end of theupper roller is provided, each block extending between and beingsupported by one pair of flanges. The motor for driving the upperroller, the blocks for journalling the upper roller, and the gear boxfor drivingly connecting the motor to the upper roller are supported inslots formed in the flanges at the sides of the housing.

The present invention relates to humidifying apparatus, and moreparticularly to the provision of a humidifying apparatus comprising, asmeans for lifting water upwardly into an air stream, a pair of rollers,a foraminous belt trained about the rollers, means for driving one ofthe rollers and a water-filled reservoir in which one of the rollers isdisposed so that the belt continuously picks up water from thereservoir. Convention-ally, a blower is used to force air through thewater-laden belt, thereby to dampen the air. It will be appreciated thathumidifiers or humidifying devices of this type are conventional.

Reference is made to the Sprouse et al. Pat. 3,203,676 which discloses ahumidifying device of the type with which the present invention isconcerned. This patent discloses the use of a frame upon which a pair ofspacedapart rollers are journal mounted, the foraminous belt beingtrained about the rollers. The frame, with the rollers and belt thereon,is movable into and out of the humidifier housing, the lower end of theframe and the lower roller being disposed, when the frame is in thehousing, in the reservoir of the humidifying device. It is believed tobe conventional, therefore, to provide a humidifying device comprising asheet metal housing into which a receptacle is placed to provide areservoir and to provide a belt-frame which extends downwardly into thereservoir.

The present invention is an improvement over such conventionalhumidifying apparatus because the bel frame is eliminated and theseparate receptacle is eliminated.

It is a primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide ahumidifying apparatus comprising a one-piece, integrally molded,upstanding plastic housing Patented Oct. 26, 1971 formed to provide, atits lower portion, a liquid-tight reservoir for receiving water.

It is another object to provide such an apparatus including first meansfor journal mounting a lower roller for rotation in the reservoir belowits intended water level, second means for supporting an upper rollerabove the intended maximum water level of the reservoir, and aforaminous belt trained about the rollers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatusin which the lower roller is weighted to provide a predetermined tensionon the foraminous belt trained about the rollers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such anapparatus in which the said first means is formed to include, at eachside of the reservoir, an upstanding flange having a generally V-shaped,upwardly opening notch formed therein for receiving the adjacent end ofthe lower roller. The weight of the lower roller is effective to biasthe ends of the lower roller toward their seats, respectively, in thesenotches.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide such anapparatus in which the said second means, i.e., the means for supportingthe upper roller, is formed to include, at each side of the housing, apair of spacedapart, inwardly extending flanges arranged to receivetherebetween the adjacent end of the upper roller, and further includinga block extending between and supported by the flanges of each pair tojournal mount the end of the upper roller extending therebetween. Eachblock may be provided with an upwardly opening notch for receiving theadjacent end of the upper roller or one or both of the blocks may beused to support *a trunniontype bearing which extends into a bore in theend of the upper roller.

As this description progresses, it will be seen that each block whichjournal mounts an end of the upper roller is preferably provided with apair of ears which extend into and rest on the bottoms of verticallyextending slots formed in the flanges between which the block extends.Further, the motor which drives the upper roller is mounted on a framewhich provides a pair of runners for engaging, respectively, slotsformed in one pair of flanges. That is, the motor and its frame issimply dropped into these slots in the flanges and the weight of themotor holds it in position. Still further, a gear is mounted on the endof the upper roller which is adjacent the motor and another gear ismounted on the output shaft of the motor, these gears being drivinglyconnected by means of an idler gear which is journal mounted in a block,which may be the same block which journal mounts the adjacent end of theupper roller, extending between the flanges which provide a mounting forthe motor. The gear on the upper roller is biased into engagement withthe idler gear by the tension on the foraminous belt, which tension isprovided by the weight of the lower roller, and the gear on the outputshaft of the motor is biased into engagement with the idler gear by theweight of the motor. One advantage of this structure for mounting theupper roller and the motor is that the block supporting the idler gearprotects the motor against water damage caused by seepage of water fromthe upper roller and the belt thereon.

Particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide ahumidifying apparatus comprising such a onepiece, integrally molded,upstanding plastic housing formed in such a manner that the hardwareassociated with the apparatus, including the upper and lower rollers,drive motor, and the bearing box for the upper roller can be assembledby dropping the components in their proper position in the housing,

Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide ahumidifying apparatus constructed in such a manner that the drive meansassociated with the water lifting means of the apparatus can beassembled by dropping the components of the drive means into theirrespective proper positions in the apparatus.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentas this description progresses.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the presentinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawingsare illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a decorative humidifier constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken from FIG. 1 generally alongthe line 22;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional view taken from FIG. 2generally along the line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the humidifier of FIG. 1 with the topcover removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded and fragmentary perspective view showingthe preferred structure for mounting the upper roller and its drivemotor;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, exploded and fragmentary perspective view showingthe preferred structure for journal mounting the lower roller; and

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatical exploded perspective view showinghow the housing of the humidifier of FIG. 1 may be molded.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-6, it will beseen that there is illustrated a decorative, console-type humidifyingapparatus 10 comprising a housing 12 and a top cover 14 provided with avent opening 16 through which moistened air emanates from the apparatus10. The opening 16 is provided with conventional grill work asillustrated in FIG. 1.

The illustrative humidifying apparatus 10 further comprises an upperroller 18, a lower roller 20, and a foraminous belt 22 trained about therollers. The belt 22 and rollers 18 and 20 comprise foraminous meansmovable through a continuous path as will become apparent as thisdescription progresses.

It will be appreciated that the lower roller 20 is disposed in thelowermost portion of the housing 12 while the upper roller 18 isdisposed generally parallel to the lower roller and directly thereabovein the upper portion of the housing 12. A blower means 24, which may bea conventional motor-driven fan and Venturi ring as illustrated, ismounted in an opening 26 in the rear wall 28 of the housing 12. Asviewed in FIG. 2, this opening 26 and, consequently, the blower means 24are disposed at a level just below the upper roller 18.

In accordance with the present invention, the housing 12 is a one-piece,integrally molded, upstanding plastic housing formed to provide, at itslower portion, a liquidtight reservoir for receiving water.Specifically, the housing 12, in addition to providing a means on whichand in which the components, including the rollers 18, 20, belt 22 andblower means 24, are mounted, provides a reservoir for holding waterinto which the belt 22 is continually dipped.

The housing 12 includes, in addition to the aforementioned rear wall 28,a bottom or floor 30, a left-side wall 32 (FIG. 2), a right-side wall34, and a front wall 36 all joined together to provide a liquid-tightreservoir having an intended maximum liquid level as indicated at 42 inFIG. 2. It will be appreciated that the maximum liquid level issubstantially below the opening 26 for the blower means 24. 'It willalso be appreciated that the lower roller 20 is well below the intendedmaximum liquid level 42. In fact, as clearly seen in FIG. 2, theforaminous belt 22 will be wetted when the upper roller 18 is driven andthere is, for instance, at least an inch of water in the reservoirprovided by the walls of the housing.

For convenience, the reservoir is indicated by the reference numeral 44.

For decorative reasons primarily, the front wall 36 is formed to providea left, front panel section 38 and a right, front panel section 40 whichlie in different planes, as illustrated. Further, primarily fordecorative reasons, the Walls 32, 34, and panel sections 38, 40 areprovided with centrally located recesses. The decorative features andthe manner in which they are obtained will be discussed further as thisdescription progresses. It will be appreciated, however, that thedecorative recesses and ridges strengthen the housing 12.

The housing 12 is molded to provide, in addition to the rear wall 28,side walls 32, 34 and front wall 36, a pair of flanges 46, 48 extendinginwardly from the left wall 32 and a pair of flanges 50, 52 extendinginwardly from the right wall 34. The flanges 46, 48 are spaced apart andparallel and they extend vertically from the bottom 30 to a point justabove the axis of the upper roller 18 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Theupper edges of these flanges 46, 48 are indicated by the referencenumeral 54. Similarly, the flanges 50 and 52 are spaced apart andparallel and vertically extending from the bottom 30 to the same heightas the flanges 46, 48. The upper, horizontally extending edges of theflanges 50, 52 are indicated, respectively, by the reference numerals56, 58.

The inwardmost extent of each flange 46, 48, at any point in its height,is nowhere exceeded at any higher point. That is, in the illustrativeembodiment, the inwardmost edges of the flanges 46, 48 are parallel andvertically extending. For reasons which will become apparent as thisdescription progresses, the vertically extending and parallel edges ofthe flanges 46, 48 facilitate the molding of the housing 12. Similarly,the inwardmost edges of the flanges 50, 52 are parallel and verticallyextending.

The flanges 46, 48 define a channel which receives the left-hand ends ofthe rollers 18, 20 and the flanges 50, 52 define a channel whichreceives the right-hand ends of the rollers. The housing 12 is molded toprovide, at each side of the reservoir 44, an upstanding flange 62, 64providing a generally V-shaped, upwardly opening notch for receiving theadjacent end of the lower roller 20. The flange 62, which is preferablyvertically extending, extends between the flanges 46, 48 as illustratedin FIG. 3 and the flange 64, which likewise is preferably verticallyextending, extends between the flanges 50, 52 as best illustrated inFIG. 6. In the illustrative embodiment, the left-hand end of the roller20 is provided with a reduced shank portion which is journal mounted inthe notch in the flange 62 and the right-hand end of the roller isprovided with a reduced shank portion which is journal mounted in thenotch in the flange 64. The lower roller 20 is restrained againstsignificant axial movement by the flanges 62 and 64.

The humidifying apparatus 10 is assembled by extending the lower roller'20 into the closed loop provided by the endless belt 22 and loweringthe roller 20, which is weighted, into the reservoir 44. The weight ofthe roller 20 will serve to urge or bias the roller toward its seatingposition in the notches in the flanges 62, 64. When the roller 20 isfirst used with a new clean belt 22, the ends of the roller will notnecessarily be seated in the bottoms of the notches. Thus, in thisdescription and in the appended claims, the terms journal mounted, asfar as the ends of the roller 20 are concerned, are intended to meanthat the ends of the roller are received, respectively, in the notchesin the flanges 62, 64 and rotatable therein. As the weight of the belt22 increases with lime deposits, the ends of the roller 20 will move tothe bottoms of the notches.

The flanges 62, 64 are thus means integrally formed with the housing 12for journal mounting the lower roller 20. It will be observed that,preferably, there is no mechanical means, other than the flanges 62, 64,for supporting roller or holding it against axial and transaxialmovement.

The left-hand end of the upper roller 18 may be journal mounted by ablock 68 extending between and supported by the flanges 46, 48.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the block 68, which may benothing more than a flat plastic member, is formed with an upwardlyopening notch for receiving and supporting the reduced left-hand endportion of the roller 18. The block 68 is inserted into elongated,downwardly extending slots 78 formed in the flanges 46, 48. That is,each flange 46, 48 is formed with a downwardly extending slot enteringits upper edge 54 and terminating with a bottom at a point therebelow.The block 68 is provided with ears extending into and resting on,respectively, the bottoms of the slots 70 in the flanges 46, 48.Preferably, the slots 70 extend vertically and have a width which isequal to or just slightly less than the thickness of the block 68. Thus,it will be apparent that the only assembly effort required for journalmounting the left-hand end of the roller 18 is to insert the block 68downwardly into the slot 70. An alternative form of the block 68 isshown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, it will be seen that the block 68' which issupported in the slots 79 carries a trunnion-type bearing plug 69 whichextends into a bore 69 in the left-hand end of the roller 18.

Each of the flanges 50, 52 is provided with a slot 74, 76 entering itsupper edge 56, 58 and terminating with a bottom at a point therebelowand a second slot 78, 80 also entering its upper edge and terminatingwith a bottom at a point therebelow as best seen in FIG. 5. These slots74, 76, 78, 80 are preferably vertically extending to facilitate themolding operation.

A gear box 84 is arranged to extend between the flanges 50, S2 and to besupported thereby. Specifically, this gear box 84 is provided with apair of cars 86 arranged to extend into and to rest on, respectively,the bottoms of the slots 74, 76. As best seen in FIG. 5, the ears 86 areflat and hook-shaped and of approximately the same thickness as thewidth of the slots 74, 76. That is, each ear 86 is provided with adownwardly extending portion 88, the portion 88 of one ear engaging thefront side of the flange 52 while the portion 88 of the other carengages the rear side of the flange 50.

The gear box 84 is formed with a vertically extending wall section 90having an upwardly opening notch 92 formed therein for receiving andjournal mounting the right-hand end, reduced shank portion 18' of theupper roller 18. That is, the wall section 90 of the gear box 84supports the right-hand end of the upper roller 18 in the same mannerthat the block 68 (FIG. 4) supports the left-hand end of the upperroller. Thus, the wall section 90 is, in eifect, a journal block for theright-hand end of the upper roller.

The gear box 84 is formed with a second vertically extending wallsection 94 with an upwardly opening notch 96 formed therein. This wallsection 94 is preferably parallel to the wall section 90 and the notch96 is formed to be in axial alignment with a vertically elongated slot98 formed in the wall section 90. An idler gear 108 is journal mountedin the gear box 84. Specifically, the idler gear 100 is mounted on ashaft 102, the lefthand end of which is journal mounted in the bottom ofthe slot 88 and the right-hand end of which is journal mounted in thebottom of the notch 96.

A driven gear 108 is mounted on the shank portion 18 of the roller 18for rotation therewith so that, when the shank portion is bottomed in orapproaching the bottom of the slot 92, the gear 108 will be in propermeshing engagement with the left-hand portion 100a of the idler gear100. The tension on the belt 22 yieldingly urges the gear 108 downwardlyinto engagement with the idler gear. Since the tension on the belt 22 isprovided by the weight of the lower roller, it can be said that the gear108 is urged into engagement with the idler gear 108 by the weight ofthe lower roller 20. The shank portion 18 does not necessarily rest onthe bottom of the slot 92 so that, in some cases, the end of the roller18 providing the shank portion 18' may be supported by the gear 108resting on the gear 100a.

The drive motor 110 for the upper roller 18 is mounted on a frame 112 bymeans such as the illustrated screws 115 (FIG. 5), which frame isprovided with a pair of runners 114, 116 which extend into the slots 78,80. Thus, the motor 110 is assembled into the humidifying apparatus 10merely by dropping the frame 112 on which the motor is mounted into theslots 78, 80. The position of the motor in the slots 78, 80 ismaintained by the weight of the motor. As illustrated, each runner 114,116 is preferably provided with grooves for engaging the edges of theslot 78, 80 in which the runner is disposed.

A driving gear 118 is mounted on the output shaft of the motor 118, sothat, when the runners 114, 116 are received, respectively, in the slots78, 80, the output shaft of the motor is received in the notch 96 andthe gear 118 is in meshing engagement with the portion 10% of the idlergear 100. The gear 118 is yieldingly urged into engagement with theidler gear 100 by the weight of the motor 119. Preferably, when therunners 114, 116 are resting or in near contact with the bottoms of theslots 78, 80, the gear 118 is properly meshed with the idler gear 106.The runners 114, 116 may not rest directly on the bottoms of the slots78, 80 and, in fact, the frame 112 may be supported by the gear 118resting on the gear 1061).

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the gear box 84,i.e., the walls 90 and 94, separate the roller 18 and the belt 22trained about the roller from the motor 110, thereby to prevent waterdamage of the motor by seepage of water from the roller toward themotor.

It will be appreciated that, with the structure illustrated in FIGS. 4and 5, the upper and lower rollers 18, 20 may be removed by pullingvertically upwardly on the upper roller, the motor 110 may be removed bypulling vertically upwardly on the motor, and then the gear box 84 canbe removed by pulling vertically upwardly thereon.

While the slots 70 in the flanges 46, 48 and the slots 74, 76, 78, 80 inthe flanges 50, 52 are shown as entering the upper edges of the flanges,it will be appreciated that, since the flanges are preferably plasticand somewhat flexible, the slots do not have to be open-ended. Thus, ifthe slots are not open-ended, the devices installed between the flangesmay be so installed by physically separating the flanges so that theears on the devices can be inserted into their respective slots. Themanner in which such closedend slots can be formed during the moldingprocess will be discussed hereinafter.

As illustrated, a float-switch assembly 124, including a float 126, isdisposed within the channel provided by the flanges 50, 52. The float126 will conventionally operate a switch (not shown) which operates alamp (not shown) to provide an indication that the water level in thereservoir 44 is below an acceptable level. The position of the float 126in FIG. 2 is merely a matter of convenience in the drawing and does notshow any particular water level.

A light is disposed within a box 128 which is mounted on the flange 52as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. Preferably, the flange 52 is providedwith a vertically extending slot (not shown) into which a hook 130 onthe light box 128 extends. This light box 128 may be removed, therefore,by lifting the box upwardly to disengage the hook 130 from the bottom ofthe slot and then pulling forwardly, i.e., away from the flange 52, onthe box.

It will be appreciated that the rollers 18, 20, belt 22, gear box 84 anddrive motor 110 comprise means for lifting water from the reservoir 44upwardly into the air current provided by the blower means 24. While theillustrated means for lifting water upwardly into the air stream is thepreferred means, it will be appreciated that, within the scope of thepresent invention, other means, such as a rotating foraminous disc ordrum may be used 7 to lift water upwardly from the reservoir 44 into theair stream provided by the blower means 24.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that there is illustrated ahousing 12 in association with portions 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146 and148 of a plastic injection mold. These portions 136148 areconventionally made of steel and proportioned and designed so that whenthey are placed in their proper respective molding positions, theycooperate to form a cavity which, when filled with molten plastic whichsubsequently hardens, will define the housing 12.

The base portion 136, i.e., the portion of the mold which forms thebottom 30 of the housing 12, may be stationary. This base portion 136preferably includes, extending upwardly from its top surface, athree-sided projection (not shown) which forms the cavity 150 whichextends about the left-hand and right-hand sides and front of the bottomportion of the housing 12. This cavity 150, as best seen in FIG. 2,gives the lower portion of the housing a decorative contour.

After the housing 12 is formed, the portion 138 of the mold whichdefines the exterior surface of the back wall 28 may be moved in thedirection of the arrow 152. It will be appreciated that this portion 138may have, on its front vertically extending surface, a boss whichdefines the opening 26. Likewise, after the molding operation, theportions 140, 142 are moved, respectively, in the directions of thearrows 154, 156 outwardly from the base portion 136. The portion 140,which defines the exterior surface of the left-hand side wall 32,includes a centrally-located boss 158 which forms a centrally-locatedrecess 160 in the wall 32. Similarly, the portion 142 which defines therighthand side wall 34 includes a boss 162 which defines thecentrally-located recess 164 in the wall 34.

The wall sections 38, 40 are defined, respectively, by mold portions144, 146 which are drawn, respectively, in the directions of the arrows166, 168 after the housing 12 is molded. The portion 144 includes a boss(not shown) forming the recess 170 in the panel section 38 and theportion 146 includes a boss (not shown) forming the recess 172 in thepanel section 40. In some cases, the die pieces 144 and 146 may beintegrally connected and pulled perpendicular to the surface 138.

The mold portion 148 which defines the interior structure of a housing12 is drawn, after the molding operation, vertically upwardly asindicated by the arrow 174. This mold portion 148 is provided with slotswhich define the flanges 46, 48, 50, 52, 62, and 64, all of which arepreferably vertically extending. It will be appreciated by thosefamiliar with molding arts that the inwardmost extent of each flange 46,48, 50, 52, at any point in its height, preferably will be nowhereexceeded at any higher point. Thus, the inwardmost edges of theseflanges 46, 48, 50, 52, are parallel and vertically extending tofacilitate the removal of the mold portion 148. The open upper ends ofthe slots 70, 74, 76, 78, 80 likewise facilitate the withdrawal of themold portion 148. That is, each of these slots 70, 74, 76, 78, 80 may beformed by a rigid member in the mold portion 148 which extends acrossthe void in the mold which forms the flange in which the slot isprovided.

A slot in a flange, such as the slot into which the hook 130 on the box128 extends, which is not open-ended as is, for instance, one of theslots 70, may be defined by a member which projects into the void in themold portion 148 forming the flange, which member is retractable fromthe void after the molding operation to permit withdrawal of the portion148.

The housing 12, with its integrally formed flanges 46, 48, 50, 52, 62and 64, is thus uniquely proportioned and designed for fabrication by aone-shot molding process. That is, once the mold portions 13 6-148 arebrought into a proper physical relationship to define a cavitycorresponding to the housing 12 structure, the entire structure,including the flanges 46, 48, 50, 52, 62, 64, the slots and notches inthese flanges, and the opening 26 in the back wall 28 are formed byinjecting molten plastic into the cavity and letting it harden beforethe mold portions are separated.

After the housing 12 is formed as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 7,the humidifying apparatus 10 can be completely assembled in a matter ofminutes because of the manner in which the rollers 18, 20, belt 22,motor 110, and gear box 84 are supported in the housing. Of course, itwill take very little time to mount the blower means 24- in the opening26-.

Because the humidifying apparatus 10 is so easy to assemble, it is alsoeasy to repair.

What is claimed is:

1. A humidifying apparatus comprising a housing, flange means disposedin said housing, foraminous means, means for driving said foraminousmeans through a continuous path, and means for supporting saidforaminous means for movement through said path, said supporting meansincluding means engaging said flange means, whereby said supportingmeans is connected to said flange means, said flange means including apair of upstanding flanges, each of said flanges providing a slot, andin which said engaging means includes portions extending, respectively,into said slots, said foraminous means including a roller and aforaminous belt trained about said roller, said flange means including apair of upstanding flanges receiving therebetween one end of saidroller, each of said flanges being provided with a slot, said supportingmeans including a block for journal mounting said one end of saidroller, said block extending between said flanges, said engaging meansincluding portions extending outwardly from said block and,respectively, into said slots, each of said flanges being provided witha second slot, and said drive means including a motor having an outputshaft and a frame on which said motor is mounted, said frame beingdisposed between said flanges and provided with portions extending,respectively, into said second slots.

2. A humidifying apparatus comprising a one-piece, integrally molded,upstanding plastic housing formed to provide, at its lower portion, aliquid-tight reservoir for receiving water, and to provide, above theintended maximum water level of said reservoir, means for supporting ablower means, a foraminous belt, a pair of rollers about which said beltis trained, and drive means for one of said rollers, and said housingbeing formed to provide integral first means for supporting one of saidrollers for rotation in said reservoir below its intended water leveland to provide integral second means for supporting the other of saidrollers above the intended maximum water level of said reservoir andgenerally parallel to said one roller, said first means providing a pairof upwardly extending laterally spaced apart webs having upwardlyopening notches therein receiving and journal mounting said one roller.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which said second means includes, at eachside of said housing, a pair of spacedapart, inwardly and downwardlyextending integral flanges defining a downwardly extending channel ateach side of said housing, the ends of said rollers extending,respectively, into said channels, said webs extending, respec tively,between said flanges of said channels, the flanges of one of saidchannels being provided with downwardly extending slots, and means forsupporting said drive means, the last said means including meansreceived in said slots.

4. A humidifying apparatus comprising a housing, flange means disposedin said housing, foraminous means, means for driving said foraminousmeans through a continuous path, and means for supporting saidforaminous means for movement through said path, said supporting meansincluding means engaging said flange means, whereby said supportingmeans is connected to said flange means, said foraminous means includinga roller and a foraminous belt trained about said roller, said flangemeans including a pair of upstanding flanges receiving therebew tweenone end of said roller, each of said flanges being provided with anupper edge and a first slot entering said upper edge and terminatingwith a bottom at a point therebelow, said supporting means including ablock for journal mounting said one end of said roller, said blockextending between said flanges, said engaging means including carportions extending into and resting on, respectively, the bottoms ofsaid first slots, each of said flanges being provided with a second slotentering its upper edge and terminating with a bottom at a pointtherebelow, and said drive means including a motor having an outputshaft and a frame on which said motor is mounted, said frame beingprovided with portions extending into and resting on the bottoms,respectively, of said second slots.

5. The invention of claim 4 including a driven gear mounted on said oneend of said roller for rotation therewith, an idler gear journal mountedon said block and meshed with said driven gear, and a driving gearmounted on the output shaft of said motor.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which the rotational axis of said idlergear is below the axes of said driving and driven gears, and in whichsaid driving and driven gears are yieldably biased downwardly intomeshing engagement with said idler gear.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which said driven gear is biaseddownwardly by the tension on said belt and in which said driving gear isbiased downwardly by the weight of said motor.

8. A humidifying apparatus comprising an upper roller, a lower roller, aforaminous belt trained about said rollers, drive means for one of saidrollers, and a one-piece, integrally molded, upstanding plastic housingformed to provide, at its lower portion, a liquid-tight reservoir forreceiving Water, and to provide integral first means for journalmounting said lower roller for rotation in said reservoir below itsintended water level, and to provide integral second means forsupporting said upper roller above the intended maximum water level ofsaid reservoir.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which said first means is formed toinclude, at each side of said reservoir, an upstanding flange having anupwardly opening notch formed therein for receiving the adjacent end ofsaid lower roller, and in which said lower roller is weighted so as tobe biased toward its seating in said notches.

10. The invention of claim 8 in which said first means includes, at eachside of said reservoir, an upstanding flange having a generallyV-shaped, upwardly opening notch formed therein for receiving theadjacent end of said lower roller, said lower roller being weighted soas to be biased toward its seating in said notches.

11. The invention of claim 8 in which said second means is formed toinclude, at each side of said housing, a pair of spaced-apart, inwardlyand downwardly extending flanges defining a downwardly extending channelat each side of said housing, in which the ends of each of said rollersextend, respectively, into said channels, in which said first means isformed to include, at the lower end of each of said channels, anupwardly extending web extending between the flanges of said channel andproviding an upwardly opening notch for receiving and journal mountingsaid lower roller, said lower roller being weighted to be biased towarda seating position at the bottoms of said notches.

12. The invention of claim 11 including a block extending between theflanges of each of said channels and providing an upwardly opening notchfor receiving and journal mounting the end of the upper roller extendinginto the channel.

13. The invention of claim 11 in which said flanges and said web arevertically extending and the inwardmost extent of each such flange atany point in its height being nowhere exceeded at any higher point.

14. The invention of claim 8 in which said second means is formed toinclude, at one side of said housing, flange means, and furthercomprising a block engaged with and supported by said flange means andarranged to journal mount the end of said upper roller which is adjacentto said one side of said housing, said flange means being formedsecurely to engage said block.

15. The invention of claim 14 in which said flange means is formed toprovide at least one slot and in which said block is provided with anear portion extending into said slot, the engagement of said ear portionin said slot being effective to support said block on said flange means.

16. The invention of claim 15 in which said flange means is providedwith at least one other slot and in which said drive means includes amotor and a frame on which said motor is mounted, said frame having aportion extending into said other slot to support said drive means onsaid flange means.

17. The invention of claim 8 in which said second means is formed toinclude, at each side of said housing, a pair of spaced-apart, inwardlyextending flanges arranged to receive therebetween the adjacent end ofsaid upper roller, and further comprising a block extending between andsupported by the flanges of each pair to journal mount the end of saidupper roller extending therebetween.

18. The invention of claim 17 in which one end of said upper roller isformed with a concentric bore entering one of its ends and includingaplug-type trunnion bearing extending into said bore, said bearing beingcarried by the block adjacent said one end.

19. The invention of claim 17 in which each of said flanges is formedwith an elongated slot and in which each of said blocks is provided withear portions extending into, respectively, the slots in the flangesbetween which the block extends.

20. The invention of claim 19 in which each of said flanges of one ofsaid pair of flanges is formed with a second slot and in which saiddrive means includes a motor having an output shaft and a frame on whichsaid motor is mounted, said frame having portions extending into,respectively, the second slots.

21. The invention of claim 20 including a driven gear mounted on the endof said upper roller extending between said one pair of flanges, anidler gear journal mounted on the block extending between said one pairof flanges and meshed with said driven gear, and a driving gear mountedon the output shaft of said motor and meshed with said idler gear.

22. The invention of claim 17 in which each of said flanges is formedwith an upper edge and an elongated, downwardly extending slot enteringits upper edge and terminating with a bottom at a point therebelow, andin which each of said blocks is provided with ears extending into andresting on, respectively, the bottoms of the slots in the flangesbetween which the block extends.

23. The invention of claim 22 in which each of said flanges of one ofsaid pairs of flanges is formed with a second slot entering its upperedge and terminating with a bottom at a point therebelow, and in whichsaid drive means includes a motor and a frame on which said motor ismounted, said frame providing a pair of runners extending into thesecond slots.

24. The invention of claim 23 including a driven gear mounted on the endof said upper roller extending between said one pair of flanges, anidler gear journal mounted on the block extending between said one pairof flanges and meshed with said driven gear, and a driving gear mountedon the output shaft of said motor and meshed with said idler gear.

25. The invention of claim 24 in which the rotational axes of said gearsare parallel with the axis of said idler gear being below the axes ofsaid driven and driving gears, said driving and driven gears beingyieldably biased into meshing engagement with said idler gear.

26. The invention of claim 24 in which the rotational axes of said gearsare parallel with the axis of said idler gear being below the axes ofsaid driven and driving gears,

1 1 said driving gear being yieldably biased into meshing engagementwith said idler gear by the weight of said motor, and said driven gearbeing yieldably biased into meshing engagement with said idler gear bythe tension on said belt.

27. The invention of claim 26 in which said first means includes, ateach side of said reservoir, an upstanding flange having an upwardlyopening notch formed therein for receiving the adjacent end of saidlower roller, said lower roller being weighted so as to be biased towardits seating in said notches, the weight of said lower roller providing apredetermined tension on said belt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1919 Camberus 261-80 12Grunwaldt 26-80 Wied (308 RE.)

Robic 26192 Mobley 26130 X Myklebust 26129 Sprouse et al 26 l80 XTicknor 26130 X Hrapshaw 261--29 DElia et al 26180 X U.S. Cl. X.R.

